The boy doesn't have a clue about chess, and there's no future at all for him in this profession. – Mikhail Botvinnik (referring to a 12-year-old boy named Anatoly Karpov)

I like 1.e4 very much but my results with 1.d4 are better. – Anatoly Karpov

Style? I have no style. – Anatoly Karpov

Let us say that a game may be continued in two ways: one of them is a beautiful tactical blow that gives rise to variations that don't yield to precise calculations; the other is clear positional pressure that leads to an endgame with microscopic chances of victory. I would choose the latter without thinking twice. If the opponent offers keen play I don't object; but in such cases I get less satisfaction, even if I win, than from a game conducted according to all the rules of strategy with its ruthless logic. – Anatoly Karpov

Chess is everything: art, science and sport. - Anatoly Karpov

I simply developed that universal style which dominated with the arrival of Spassky and then Fischer. But all the same we were different chess players, of course. Both Spassky and Fischer were brilliant at developing and sensing the initiative. In that regard I was, perhaps, a little inferior, but on the other hand I stood out by having excellent technique for converting an advantage, positional sense and an ability to maneuver positionally – in that area I was clearly superior to Spassky, and Fischer, and perhaps everyone, except Petrosian. - Anatoly Karpov

At first I found some of his moves not altogether understandable, and only after careful analysis did I discover their hidden strength. – Ljubomir Ljubojevic (on Karpov)

When observing Karpov's play or playing against him, one cannot help thinking that all his pieces are linked by invisible threads. This net moves forward unhurriedly, gradually covering the enemy squares, but, amazingly, not relinquishing its own. – Alexander Roshal

When having an edge, Karpov often marked time and still gained the advantage! I don't know anyone else who could do that, it's incredible. I was always impressed and delighted by this skill. When it looked like it was high time to start a decisive attack, Karpov played a3, h3, and his opponent's position collapsed. - Vladimir Kramnik

There are very few madmen who risk employing Pirc or King's Indian against Karpov. - Alexsander Shashin

Many of Karpov's intentions become understandable to his opponents only when salvation is no longer possible. – Mikhail Tal

Known as a negative player, Karpov sets up deep traps and creates moves that seem to allow his opponent possibilities - but that really don't. He takes no chances, and he gives his opponents nothing. He's a trench-warfare fighter who keeps the game moving just an inch at a time. – Bruce Pandolfini

Karpov defeated me in Linares-94 where he scored 11 out of 13. I got into an inferior endgame. However, it did not seem awful. Then I made some appropriate moves and could not understand how I had managed to get into a losing position. Although I was already in the world top ten, I failed to understand it even after the game. This was one of the few games after which I felt like a complete idiot with a total lack of chess understanding! Such things happen very rarely to top level players. Usually you realise why you have lost. This moment defies description - there is something almost imperceptible about it and so characteristic of Karpov. - Vladimir Kramnik